Sonic Healthcare Limited is an Australian listed company (ASX: SHL) that provides laboratory pathology and radiology services. The Sydney-based company has its roots in the pathology practice of Douglass Laboratories, and since has become one of the largest diagnostic companies globally. It has a presence in Australia, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland and in Canada with a 15-year contract with Alberta Health Services. Being the largest provider in Australasia and Europe and the third largest in the USA, it employs over 23,000 people.
Sonic was listed as a pathology group in 1978 and expanded to WA in 2001 as part of a wider acquisition spree. That year, it bought Clinipath Pathology and Bunbury Pathology from Foundation Healthcare as well as SKG Radiology, Western Australia's largest private diagnostic imaging practice. In 2002, through SKG Radiology it acquired Fremantle Radiology. In 2004, it bought the pathology operations of Endeavour HealthCare in NSW and WA and merged them into Sonic's existing operations (being Clinipath Pathology in WA). In addition IPN acquires Endeavour's medical centre operations. In 2008, Sonic Healthcare moved to 100% ownership of Independent Practitioner Network Limited (IPN) which acquired the Gemini Medical Group, both of which had strong links to WA.
